Fabric edging



Aug. 11, 1936. R. LOEB FABRIC EDGING Filed April 2l,A 1934 Patented ug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction, and to the method of making, a new and novel type of edging for textile fabrics; and particularly to an edging for those more or less flimsy or delicate fabrics of the open-weave, mesh or net types such as are commonly employed in the making of the bodies and/or trimmings of various kinds of furniture covers or scarfs and draperies including curtains, Valances, tie-backs, etc.

In the case of draperies, the trimming Vfrequently takes the form ofa single row or series of rows of rullles at or adjacent one or more edges of the article. A specific application of the present invention resides in an edging for a strip of fabric from which a trimming rufelof the aforementioned kind is made.

The construction of the edging forming the subject of the present invention and the method by which such edging is produced will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to` the accompanying drawing; of which:

o Fig. 1 is a fragmentary face view of a piece of material illustrating the edging of the present invention as applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a face view of the edging per se;

Fig. 3 is a face view of the fabric prior to the application of the edging thereto; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

As shownin the drawing, I indicates a piece of fabric of the net, mesh, or open-weave type, such as one will commonly find in draperies for the windows of private homes. Usually such curtains are hung in pairs with a valance atv the top of the Window and with strips, known as tiebacks, holding the curtains draped in a semifestoon at each side of the window. The curtains are frequently trimmed along their inner vertically hanging edges and along their lower horizontal edges with a single row of rules also V-constructed of the fabric of the type illustrated at I and the valance and tie-backs are usually made of the same fabric and adorned in a like manner.

In order to produce these rules, the wider pieces 45 of material, such as those of which the bodies of the curtains are formed, are cut into relatively narrow strips of a width corresponding to the depth of the ruflle desired. The one cut edge of the rule strip is folded in and hidden as the 50 rulle is being stitched to the body of the article. 'I'he opposite, or free, cut edge of the ruile strip is frequently hemmed in a conventional manner to hide such cut edge. In other instances, as illustrated in Fig. 3, this free edge is either rolled 55 or puckered laterally, as illustrated lat 2, and held 4a piece of fabric I, such as that illustrated in Fig.

in this form by means of a series of zig-zag or over-edge stitches, illustrated at 3, which penetrate and are locked in the fabric at points 4, 4, located inwardly of the rolled edge 2, and again locked together, outside the roll 2, at points illus- 5 trated at 5, 5.

The edging constituting the subject matter of the presentV invention is adapted to be applied to the free edge of the rullle, in addition to the hem or roll or puckering 2, as the case may be, for the purposeof ornamenting the free edge of the rule.

As shown in Fig. 2, this edging consists of a row of chain stitches I0 which runs in a substantially straight line. At predetermined intervals throughout the length of the chain I0, the stitches are diverted laterally from the straight lineY of the chain I0 to form suitable appendages, such as rings or loops I I, I I, thereon.

Each of the appendages II consists of a predetermined number of the stitches I2 which are interlocked with each other in, and collectively form, an ornate ligure around an open center I3.

The stitches I2, upon completing the open centered figure, overlap the stitches of the chain I0 vat the point at which the stitches of the chain sponding tothe spacing of the appendages II which preferably, though not necessarily, are uniformly spaced along the length of the edging. The production of the edging shown in Fig. 2, preferably is effected simultaneous with the application of the edging to the fabric, for example,

3, is run through a suitable sewing or embroidery machine capable of producing the chain of stitches I0. The fabric is fed to the machine in such a manner that the needle or hook for producing the chain stitches I0 penetrates the fabric 45 I onor immediately adjacent the inner or back Aedge of the roll or hem 2, at or near and subforming the stitches of the chain III-is actuated in a manner to divert the formation of the stitches from the straight line of the chain I0 as successive stitches are subsequently formed, whereby the formation of the interlocked stitches passes off and beyond the edge 2 of the fabric I and are locked one with the other beyond said edge to produce the shape and size of the appendage II which is desired.

The continued turning of the fabric relative to the needle or the turning of the needle relative to the fabric, as the case may be in forming a ring II, is carried on until the stitches forming the ring again cross the edge 2 of the fabric and overlap the stitches of the chain I0 at the last point of diversion, whereupon another series of stitches in a straight line, and in line with the previously formed stitches of the chain I0, is made, up to the point where another appendage II is desired. This cycle of operations is repeated continuously along the edge of the fabric.

In the preferred form of the invention there are four straight successively formed and interlocked stitches in each straight section of the edging between each two of the appendages I I, I I and each of the rings I I is composed of four successively formed and interlocked stitches arranged around the open center I3 of the appendage.

The esthetic effect of the edging may be enhanced by using a thread, in the formation of the edge 2, of a different color from the body of the fabric, for example, the over-edge stiches 3 may be black while the fabric I is white and by making the stitches which constitute the superimposed edging of the present invention, including the chain I0 and appendages II, of a thread differing in color from both the fabric I and the over-edge stitches 3, for example, a pale blue or green.

The zig-zag or over-edge stitches 3 are common in the art and may be readily produced by a well known Willcox and Gibbs over-edge sewing machine. The edging consisting of the chain I0 and lateral appendages II may be formed by any suitable type of machine adaptable for the purpose and in the present instance is produced by a well known type of embroidery machine modified and provided with suitable attachments adapted to cause the needle to depart from the straight line stitch formation to produce the ornate appendages along the edge of the fabric periodical- I claim:

l. An article of manufacture comprising a piece of relatively open textile material having a bound margin provided with an additional edging com- -prising a continuous chain of successively formed and interlocked stitches disposed in a substantially straight continuous line spaced inwardly from the bound margin of said piece with ornate appendages composed of stitches of said chain extending laterally from said line and outwardly beyond said bound margin at predetermined lpoints throughout the length thereof.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a piece of relatively open textile material having a bound margin provided with an additional edging comprising a continuous chain of successively'formed and interlocked stitches disposed in a 3. An article of manufacture comprising a piece of relatively open textile material having a marginal edge bound by overedge stitching, said article being provided with an additional superimposed edging comprising a continuous chain of successively formed and interlocked stitches disposed in a substantially straight continuous line substantially parallel to said bound margin with ornate appendages composed of stitches of said chain extending laterally from said line and overlying and projecting outwardly beyond the overedge stitching binding said margin, said appendages being disposed at predetermined points throughout the length thereof.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a piece of relatively open textile material having a marginal edge bound by overedge stitching, said article being provided with an additional superimposed edging comprising a continuous chain of successively formed and interlocked stitches disposed in a substantially straight continuous line substantially parallel to said bound margin with ornate appendages composed of stitches of said chain extending laterally from said line and overlying and projecting outwardly beyond the successively formed and interlocked stitches disposed in a substantially straight continuous line substantially coincident with and parallel to the inner line of said overedge stitching of said bound margin with ornate appendages composed of stitches of said chain extending laterally from said line and overlying and projecting outwardly beyond the overedge stitching binding said marin, said appendages being disposed at predetermined uniformly spaced points throughout the length thereof.

6. The method of producing an ornate edge on a piece of textile material which consists in forming a row of overedge stitches along one edge of the piece, by anchoring said overedge stitches in the material inwardly from said edge and extending said stitches around said edge to bind said edge, then forming a continuous line of successively interlocked chain stitches on and adjacent said edge of the piece, at predetermined intervals along said edge diverting the formation of said chain stitches laterally outward from the continuous line of the chain to and beyond said edge of the piece in superposed relation to said overedge stitches, returning with the formation of said chain stitches across said edge to the point of diversion from said continuous line of the chain, and continuing the formation of said continuous line of chain stitches from said point of diversion in alignment with that portion of said line produced prior to said diversion therefrom.

7. The method of producing an ornate edge on a piece of textile material which consists in forming a row of overedge stitches along one edge of the piece, by anchoring said overedge stitches in the material inwardly from said edge and extending said stitches around said edge to bind said edge, then forming a continuous line of successively interlocked chain stitches on and adjatially coincident with the line of anchorage of said overedge stitches, at predetermined intervals along said edge diverting the formation of said chain stitches laterally outward from the continuous line of the chain to and beyond said edge of the piece in superposed relation to said overedge stitches, returning with the formation of said chain stitches across said edge to the point of diversion from said continuous line of the chain, and continuing the formation of said continuous line of chain stitches from said point of diversion in alignment with that portion of said line produced prior to said diversion therefrom.

RUDOLF LOEB. 

